The Youth Hae-naem Center in Gangdong-gu, a startup hub in Seoul, and the Seoul Startup Center in Gwanak have joined forces to support promising startups in attracting investment. On November 4, 2025, the '2025 Seoul Startup Support Facility Joint IR (Investment Relations) Day' held at the Seoul Startup Center in Gwanak showcased the collaboration between the two institutions. The event featured nine startups from various fields, including deep tech, eco-friendly energy, education, bio, and healthcare, presenting their technologies and achievements.

The purpose of the 2025 Seoul Startup Support Facility Joint IR Day is to provide a platform for promising startups to attract investment and promote their businesses based on cooperation among Seoul's startup support facilities. Three selected companies receive support in creating IR decks (investment materials) to expand their investment opportunities.

The collaboration between the Youth Hae-naem Center in Gangdong-gu and the Seoul Startup Center in Gwanak provided startups with opportunities to meet many investors. Unlike individually operated IRs by startup support facilities, this collaboration allows for an expanded pool of investors. The cooperation between the two startup support facilities is a result of efforts to expand support for promising startups.

The 2025 Seoul Startup Support Facility Joint IR Day was attended by six evaluators, including accelerators, venture capitalists, university technology holding companies, and TIPS operators. Nine innovative startups presented their businesses, achievements, and growth plans.

Easy Content Lab (CEO Lee Dong-gun), an educational content startup, introduced 'Hi ALLang,' a game-style app targeting the rapidly growing Korean language learning market driven by the K-content craze. Hi ALLang incorporates gamification elements, allowing users to explore famous Korean sites, collect letters, and decorate avatars and homes. It supports 25 languages, including English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese, combining learning and community functions for differentiation.

Newgeum Lab (CEO Kim Ji-young) announced an actionable precision nutrition AI solution. The AI analyzes health check-up data and surveys to recommend personalized diets, foods, and supplements optimized for individuals. The structure automatically completes a shopping cart according to the diet that matches health goals. Newgeum Lab's solution can be integrated with delivery apps and food platforms.

RI Energy (CEO Kim Heon-jo) addresses the site analysis issue, which determines the success of renewable energy projects, using AI and satellite data. RI Energy integrates over 700 geographic information system site data with satellite data to comprehensively analyze administrative districts, protected areas, transportation, wind direction, etc. It provides optimal site suggestions by integrating site data, including environmental impact assessments, before construction. In 2024, it completed a 1-megawatt (MW) solar contract with CJ Group and conducted two site analysis service contracts totaling 500MW.



Digital Nutrition (CEO Kim Na-young) is a digital healthcare company based on sound technology. The newly announced SoundPill offers various functions such as stress relief, sleep induction, concentration enhancement, and appetite suppression under the concept of a digital supplement. It has developed functional sound intellectual property (IP) in-house and verified its medical effects through clinical trials at university hospitals. Based on its experience supplying solutions to companies like LG Electronics and Hyundai Construction, it plans to expand into the general consumer market.

Data Play Labs (CEO Lee Sang-hyun), a sports data analysis startup, proposed an AI-based game result prediction solution. This solution collaborated with the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation to conduct a three-year project with the winner prediction service 'AI Pick.' Unlike other services that rely on expert intuition, it emphasizes academic evidence and transparent records. It has published over 50 data analysis papers in the past three years, handling the entire process from data collection to analysis, result derivation, and service. In 2026, it plans to enter the Korean, Japanese, and ASEAN markets, starting with a paid service.



Honey Arcade (CEO Kim Min-kyun) addresses the guidance issue of 'localized spaces' such as complex shopping malls or knowledge industry centers with a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution. Instead of expensive kiosks or indoor navigation, it utilizes 'QR guideboards.' Visitors can scan the QR guideboards to access location-based space guidance and facility information. Honey Arcade provides the platform to management bodies (building owners) for a subscription fee of KRW 100,000 to 200,000 per month, accelerating market share expansion.

CultiCrop (CEO Lee Hyung-il) has developed a 'corporate farm management' software-as-a-service that manages the entire process from seeds to raw material supply with data. It plans to target the Southeast Asian potato seed market rather than the domestic market. The corporate farm management solution combines proprietary seed production technology with a data-driven customized cultivation automation system. Through proof of concept with Calbee Wings in Indonesia, it demonstrated a 67% increase in potato production and a 24% reduction in production costs. It plans to enter the Thai and Vietnamese markets after the first seed production in 2026.



Wevo (CEO Heo Seong-wook) proposed the Wevo AI solution for innovation in the domestic fabric market. When a clothing designer uploads a photo of the desired clothing or fabric, the AI analyzes the material and pattern in 10 seconds. After analysis, it finds similar fabrics. In 2026, it plans to commercialize the AI service and establish an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

Kkun (CEO Shim Byung-chan) has developed a vehicle management system (FMS) specialized for electric cargo trucks and provides eco-friendly delivery services using it. The goal is to overcome the hardware limitations of electric vehicles, such as short driving range and charging issues, with data. The vehicle management system collects and analyzes vehicle status, location, and external variables (temperature, altitude) every second. It optimizes charging and delivery based on the analyzed data. By the first half of 2026, it plans to supply the vehicle management system to public office electric vehicles and pursue agreements with three local governments. The goal is to achieve KRW 50 billion in sales with 1,000 direct and affiliated vehicles by 2030.

The Youth Hae-naem Center in Gangdong-gu and the Seoul Startup Center in Gwanak evaluated that the 2025 Seoul Startup Support Facility Joint IR Day laid the foundation for continuous cooperation among startup support facilities. They plan to gradually expand the intersection of the two institutions to build a growth ecosystem for startup companies.

Son Moon-gyu, Director of the Youth Hae-naem Center in Gangdong-gu, said, "We successfully concluded the 2025 Seoul Startup Support Facility Joint IR Day with the Seoul Startup Center in Gwanak. We will continue to support many startup companies to grow."

Song Myung-joo, Director of the Seoul Startup Center in Gwanak, said, "By conducting a joint IR through the startup support facility collaboration program, we have created opportunities to induce the growth of startup companies. The 2025 Seoul Startup Support Facility Joint IR Day has significant meaning in creating positive synergy across the startup ecosystem."

IT Donga Reporter Kang Hyung-seok (redbk@itdonga.com)

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